Material handling means



Jan. 23, 1968 A. T. KORNYLAK 3,365,052

MATERIAL HANDLING MEANS Filed Sept. 26, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1..

3 FIG. '7. PIC-1.8. 19 .7

NI -21 2a z 2e ,4." 22 y 339 27 ,I-7

INVENTOR a J 4 H H JANDREWTKORNYLAK Jan. 23, 1968 A. 'r. KORNYLAKMATERIAL HANDLING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 26, 1966 w K 7W 4 mm G m M I m P M m M m G O 2 Q G O T 4 9 o M 2 Q i j ,0, J 4 00040 a O: A.A a mwxxw o u Q, 3 F E, o O G 4 I G 1.. G M F l I 1 F m 3 Va F 3 Jan.23, 1968 A. T. KORNYLAK MATERIAL HANDLING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledSept. 26, 1 966 A. T. KORNYLAK Jan. 23, 1968 MATERIAL HANDLING MEANS 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 26, 1966 s "I INVENTOR ANDREW T. KORNYLAK BYAGENT the chain and makes the load on able.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,365,052 MATERIAL HANDLING MEANS Andrew T.Kornylak, 400 Heaton St., Hamilton, Ohio 45011 Continuation-impart ofapplication Ser. No. 499,584, Oct. 21, 1965. This application Sept. 26,1966, Ser. No. 581,883

14 Claims. (Cl. 198-158) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosurerelates to a material handling means for use in buildings, warehouses,ships and other suitable locations. It comprises a unitary elongatedcasing or housing having a vertical conveyor mounted therein whichincludes sprockets mounted in pairs on two opposite walls of the casing,and sprocket chains carried by said sprockets. Shelves or trays aremounted on said chains for vertical travel, with provision for holdingthe shelves horizontal during one direction of vertical travel, andsubstantially vertically during travel in the reverse direction, makingfor economy in space. The structure comprehends a rigid unitaryself-supporting conveyor that may be mounted as a complete unit in ahatchway or shaft. Such units up to 80 feet in length are handled. Shelfsupporting stub shafts are mounted on the shelves. Endless tracksmounted on the Walls of the casing cooperate with bell-crank levers onthe stub shafts on the shelves to control the position of the shelvesduring their travel in an endless path. Each sprocket chain containsspaced shaft or shelf carrying links, each having a bushing therein toaccommodate a stub shaft. The shelf or shaft carrying links compriseoversize plates, having the bushings intermediate their ends and havingsprocket pins adjacent their ends. The centers of the bushings aresubstantially in line with the centers of the sprocket pins, so that theload on the chains is always in line with the sprocket pins. Thesprockets have deepened tooth spaces regularly spaced thereabout toaccommodate the bushings. Suitable spaced door openings are provided inone side of the casing for loading or unloading shelves at variousvertically spaced locations, preferably at each loading and/ orunloading level. An opening may be provided adjacent the top of thecasing in the opposite wall for loading and unloading. Suitable firedoors are located adjacent said openings. A fire resistant coating maybe applied to the exterior of the casing.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my abandoned applicationSer. No. 499,584, filed Oct. 21, 1965. This invention relates to animprovement in a material handling means, and more particularly to avertical con- 'veyor having a plurality of normally horizontal, spacedapart, vertically movable shelves or carriers. In the device of thisinvention, the shelves in a horizontal position move vertically toconvey articles from one level to another, and at the end of suchmovement they turn their outer ends upwardly for travel verticallythrough a more restricted space.

In former conveyors of this general type, the shelf or load carrier hasbeen mounted on some sort of bracket attached to the sprocket chain.Such mounting tends to twist or cant the chain away from a normallyvertical path. Further, when the bracket is in a position substantiallyhorizontally radially of a sprocket axis, the lever arm at the sprocketlengthens. At other times when the chain, only, embraces the lever armis normal, and the lengthening above noted is the cause of the cantingof the driving motor vari- Patented Jan. 23, 1%68 With this inventionshaft supporting bushings are mounted in longitudinally spaced apart,somewhat oversize, links having normal sprocket pins at their ends andintermediate shaft carrying bushings. The sprockets have deepened toothrecesses or pin pockets spaced about their peripheries, whereby toprovide selectively variable shelf spacing. The depth of these deeperpockets brings the axes of the bushings substantially in line with thepitch circle, as with the normal sprocket pins, and, therefore, the axesof the shafts are substantially on the pitch circles of the sprockets.There is no change in the radial lever arm as a bushing and shaft comehorizontally radially opposite the axes of the sprockets. The drivingeffect is smooth and the lift is always along the center of the chain.

This invention is an improvement over the elevator means disclosed in myapplication Ser. No. 398,146, filed Sept. 8, 1964.

A particular use of the vertical conveyor of this invention is to conveyarticles from the deck of a ship to the hold or vice versa. For thispurpose, the vertical conveyor would be mounted in a hatch or othershaft or passageway of a ship. Use is, however, not restricted to marinestructures, but is capable of use in any building structure.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a plurality ofvertically traveling endless chain means carrying a plurality of shelvesand for moving said shelves in a closed path. Y

Another object of this invention is the provision of means for movingspaced apart shelves mainly in a vertical direction in a closed path andfor varying the spacing of the shelves.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an endlesscarrier means having means moving vertically in a closed path andcarrying shelves traveling normally in a substantially horizontalposition on one flight of the carrier means and being turned to aposition substantially normal to that in the first path on the returnflight to travel in a more restricted space.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a pair ofsubstantially parallel spaced apart sprocket chains having linkscomprised of parallel spaced plates connected by sprocket chain pivotpins engageable with sprocket teeth for driving the chains said spacedapart plates having tubular bearings therein for supporting shelfbearing shafts, and including sprockets for such chains having spacedtooth recesses or link pin pockets of greater depth than the normal linkpivot recesses, to accommodate the bearing bushings.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a verticalconveyor wherein the sprockets are interchangeable in order to providefor various spacings of the shaft bearing bushings.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of a sprockethaving alternate deep and shallow tooth recesses, whereby the spacing ofshelves may be any multiple of two teeth and sprocket links.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a unitary trunkhaving the complete vertical conveyor assembled therewithin, and guidingmeans on its interior wall for controlling the motion of the shelves.

Another particular feature of this invention is the provision of shelfbearing shafts atlixed to the shelves and passing through bushings incertain sprocket links and having bell-crank levers at their outer endscooperating with guiding means mounted on the trunk wall to control thepositions of the shelves during their circulatory movement.

Another particular object of this invention is the provision of guidingmeans permitting loading or unloading at the front of the elevator, oneither up or down movement, and means adjacent the top for loading orunload ing at the rear of the elevator, on either up or down motion.

These and other objects will be apparent from a consideration of thefollowing specification taken with the accompanying drawings, forming apart thereof, and which taken together comprise a complete disclosure ofmy invention.

In the drawings, wherein like parts are denoted by like characters ofreference throughout the several figures:

FIG. 1 is a generally diagramatic side view of the vertical conveyorsimilar to FIG. 6 of my prior application above noted;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section showing the shelves in two positions, andthe control for same;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a shelf frame and the control arm;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic elevation showing partially in section, showinga form of sprocket and chain;

FIG. 4A is a fragmentary edge view of the structure as shown in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are modifications of the sprocket shown in FIG. 4,indicating various spacings;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of a further modified sprocket with aportion of a sprocket chain;

FIG. 8 is an edge view of the sprocket and chain of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a somewhat diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 1, showing thetubular housing of the unitary trunk of this invention;

FIG. 10 is a layout of one form of track used for guiding andcontrolling the shelves in their movement;

FIG. 11 is an axonometric view showing the chains and sprockets of FIGS.7 and 8, within the trunk, the latter being shown in dashed lines;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view showing the application of a fireproofingmaterial to the exterior of the trunk; and

FIG. 13 is an axonometric view of a bell crank, such as the one at theleft end of the shelf 329 and not shown in FIG' 12.

The vertical conveyor 10 as shown in FIG. 1 comprises a frame 11 in theform of a generally rectangular tube open on at least part of the front.This tube may be a hatchway or elevator shaft in a ship or otherstructure. At the base of the tube 11 there is a housing 12 in which thelower sprockets are located, only one, 13, being shown, mounted on ashaft 14. The sprocket chain 15 passes about the sprocket 13 and hasfront reach or flight 16 and rear reach or flight 17. At the upper endof the frame 11 there is a housing 18 in which there is a shaft 19mounted in bearings 20, only one of which is shown. The shaft 19 carriessprockets 21, only one being shown. Outside the housing 18 on the shaft19 there is a sprocket 22. On a shelf 23 at the rear of the tube 11there is a reduction gear 24 driven by the motor 25, mounted on saidshelf. The output shaft 26 of the reduction gear 24 supports a sprocket27 which is connected to the sprocket 22 by means of the sprocket chain28.

Each shelf 29 is supported on a stub shaft 30 which is rotatably mountedin a bushing 31 in the sprocket chain 15 as seen in FIGS. 4 and 4A. Thesprocket chain 15 consists of links 33 and 34 having side barsrespectively 35, 36 and 37, 38 connected by pins 39. The link 32 hasside bars 41 41 connected to sprocket link pins 39, spaced four linksapart. The pins 39 enter tooth recesses 42 so that the teeth 43 drivethe chain 15. The tooth recesses 44 are made deeper than the toothrecesses 42 to accommodate the bushings 31. Each side bar 41 carries a'bushing 31 for supporting the shaft 30.

To control shelves 29, maintaining them horizontal on one flight, andinclined on the return flight, I provide tracks 45, 46, 47 and 48 on twoof the inner walls of the tube 11. The tracks 45 and 48 are preferablyspaced farther from the Wall than are the tracks 46 and 47 toaccommodate crossover loops, not shown, at the upper and/ or lower endsof the elevator whereby to control the angle of the shelves 29. In FIG.3, the shelf 29 is shown having its stub shaft 30 fixed thereto. On thisshaft, outboard the bushing 31, there is fixed a bell-crank lever 49having arms 50, 51. The arm 50 has a roller 52 which rides in track 45,and the arm 51 has a roller 53 which rides in the track 46, to maintainthe shelf 29 substantially horizontal during vertical travel on thefront flight 16 of the chains 15. At this time the arm 50 issubstantially horizontal and the arm 51 is substantially vertical. Onthe return fiight 17 the position of the arms 50, 51 is changedapproximately so that the arm 51 is substantially horizontal having itsroller 53 riding in the track 47, and the roller 52 on the arm 50 ridesin the track 48. Thus on the return flight the shelf 29 assumes aposition nearly vertical or at a very acute angle to the vertical.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sprocket 13 has one enlarged recess 44, so thatit accommodates shelf shafts spaced apart a distance equal to thecircumference of the sprocket 13, and the centers of the shelf stubshafts 30 are on the same line as the centers of the sprocket linkpivots 39.

In FIG. 5, a modification is shown wherein the sprocket 113 has twoenlarged recesses 144 permitting shelf stub shafts to be spaced adistance equal to half the circum' ference of the sprocket 113 or anymultiple of /2 cir cumference.

In FIG. 6, I show a further modification wherein the sprocket 213 hasthree enlarged recesses 244 to permit spacing of the stub shafts /s thecircumference of the sprocket 213 or any suitable multiple of thecircumference.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 there is shown a further modification of the sprocketand chain wherein on the sprocket 313 alternate tooth recesses or pivotpin pockets are deepened to accommodate bushings 331 and the stub shafts330. The sprocket teeth 343 engage the sprocket pins 339 and stub shafts330. The bushings 331 are formed on links 332 comprised of plates 340,341 having openings near their ends to accommodate sprocket pins 339.Sprocket links 333 and 334 are like links 33 and 34, and have side barsrespectively 335, 336 and 337, 338. It is, of course, necessary and asshown in FIG. 8, that the sprocket teeth clear the bushings 331 as Wellas the plates 335 and 336. The alternate deepened tooth recesses 344correspond generally to the recesses 44, 144 and 244, heretoforedescribed. In this construction, the stub shafts 330 may be spaced alongthe chains 15 any suitable multiple of two links, thus permittinggreater choice of shelf spacing than bythe other sprocket conformationsdescribed.

In operation, a suitable sprocket 13, 113, 213 or 313 is placed on theshaft 14, and a similar sprocket is placed on the shaft 19 in lieu ofthe sprocket 21. The shelf stub shafts 30, 130, 230 or 330 are insertedon the chains 15 in the corresponding bushings 31, 131, 231 and 331andthe chains are trained over the sprockets as described above. Thebell-crank levers 49 are set so that the shelves 29 are horizontal onthe front flight 16, and will assume a position to bring the shelvessubstantially vertical on the return flight 17.

It is contemplated that instead of using an existing tubular casing 11,I may, in come cases, mount the tracks 45, 46, 47 and 48 or theirequivalents in a self-contained trunk which may be installed in thehatchway, vertical passageway or shaft of the ship or other structure.Such trunk may be open at suitable points adjacent its upper and lowerends and at desired intermediate levels to accommodate loading andunloading means. Such an integrated or unitary trunk and its accessoriesis disclosed in FIGS. 9 to 12, inclusive.

A tubular casing 111, preferably rectangular in cross section is shownin FIG. 9 as resting on a floor or other support 112A. Adjacent thelower end of the trunk there is a sprocket 113 mounted on a stub shaft114 attached to the wall of the trunk. Adjacent the upper end of thetrunk 111, there is a shaft 119 mounted in suitable bearings carrying asprocket 121. At the top of the casing or trunk 111, there is areduction gear 124 driven by a motor 125. The output of the reductiongear 124 includes a sprocket 127 which drives a sprocket 122 on theshaft 119 to rotate the shaft 119 and the sprocket 121.

It is to be understood that at the far end of the shaft 119 as seen inFIG. 9, there is another sprocket 121 carrying another chain 115 notshown here. Also, opposite the sprocket 113, there is another sprocket113, not shown in FIG. 9, these other sprockets carrying the other chain115.

For controlling the inclination of the shelves 129, the tracks 145, 146and 147, 148 are provided. Each pair of tracks 145, 146 and 147, 148 isa substantially closed circuit, having their main portions parallel tothe parallel runs or flights 116 and 117 of the chains 115. The tracks146 and 147 are connected by a loop 146a at one end and by loops 147a atthe other end. The tracks 145 and 148 are connected by a loop 145a atone end and by a loop 148a at the other end. The loops 145a and 148across one another at two places. This causes the rollers 152 and 153 toturn about the axis of the shaft 131 to change position the shelf 129from a vertical position as seen at the lower right in FIG. to ahorizontal position as seen at the left in FIG. 10. The tracks 146 and148 are substantially centered with the runs 116 and 117, respectively,of the chains 115. In FIGS. 9 and 10, a carrier or shelf 129 is shown atthe loops 145a and 146a adjacent a loading and unloading conveyor C,shown in dotted line position for loading the shelf 129 and in full lineposition for receiving a load L from the shelf 129. Thus, this positioncan operate on either up or down motion of the shelf for loading and/orunloading. Passage of the load into or out of the elevator may bethrough an opening closed by a door D1. About midway of FIG. 9, a shelf129 is shown carrying a load L, which may have been received at the doorD2, as shown at the lower right in FIG. 9, where a load L2 is resting ona deck, floor or other support F in position to be placed on a shelf129. In order to provide a tight fit, whenever the trunk 111 is smallerthan the hatchway or shaft in which it is being installed, plates P maybe welded to the deck or floor F, and to the tube 111. Loading andunloading usually takes place at the door D2 or D3, or any intermediatedoor. Any well known electrical controls may be used for the control ofthe vertical conveyor, such as up, down, runstop switches, in a controlunit such as the unit S in FIG. 1. Other suitable control units areshown at 188 in my copending application Ser. No. 398,146, mentionedabove.

The doors D1, D2, D3 may be any suitable closures, and will preferablybe of a conventional fire door type.

In FIG. 11, I show the tube 311, corresponding to the tube 111, havingchains and sprockets thereon of the type shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Here,the chains 315 have front reaches or flights 316, and rear reaches orflights 317. These chains are trained about sprockets 313, on stubshafts 314 and sprockets 321 on shaft 319. The sprockets have alternatetooth recesses 344 deepened, as in FIG. 7. With this arrangement, theshelves or carriers such as 329 may be spaced any multiple of twosprocket chain links.

The shelf and its controlling means include a suitable number of links332 spaced at intervals along the chains 315. Each shelf 329 carries abell-crank lever 349 mounted on the stub shaft 330 by suitable meanssuch as a set screw or bolt 350. The bell-crank lever 349 has arms 350and 351, the former extending generally parallel to the shelf 329, andthe latter projecting downwardly, as seen in FIGS. 11 and 13, from theshelf 329. The rollers 352 and 353, respectively, ride in suitablechannel tracks on the inner walls of the tube 311, such as the tracks145, 146, 147 and 148 above described.

It is to be particularly noted that the enlarged tooth recesses orsprocket pin pockets 44, 144, 244 and 344 are so arranged that the axesof any bushings 31, 131, 231, or 331 are substantially on the pitchcircle of the respective sprockets, and are in a line with axes of thesprocket pins 39, 139, 239 and 339. In other words, the bushings are soarranged that the axis of a stub shaft 30, 130, 230 or 330, duringmovement about the axis of a sprocket, is substantially on the pitchcircle of the sprocket whereby the force exerted at the radius of thepitch circle on all pins and stub shafts is the same. There is no changeof lever arm such as would occur if the shelf supports were outside theconfines of the sprocket chain. There is, therefore, a constant lift ona shelf whether in the vicinity of a sprocket or elsewhere in its pathof travel.

In order to protect the tube 111 or 311 and the mechanism therein incase of fire, I spray or trowel on a coating of suitable plasticmaterial which expands when subjected to heat, and is fireproof. In FIG.12, I show a layer of plastic material 200 on tube 111. The same wouldapply to any other tube such as 311. The material 200 may be factoryapplied or applied during installation. At present I prefer to use acommercially available material known as ALBI-CLAD spray onfireproofing. This layer may be or more in thickness.

The units 111 and 311 are now preferably made in sections of standardlengths, such as 10 or 20 feet, and will be connected by welding orotherwise joining as at 201 in FIG. 9. However, they can now be handledas units up to feet in length.

Having now described my invention in a preferred form, I desire it to beknown that modifications and changes may be made within the skill of theart and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A material handling means comprising a unitary casing, a loadcarrying shelf, vertically spaced sprockets mounted adjacent oppositewalls, sprocket chains on said sprockets, said sprocket chains includingshelf supporting links for supporting said shelf on said shelfsupporting links, said shelf being rotatably mounted on said sprocketchains, means integrally formed on said casing walls controlling saidshelf for travel in a substantially horizontal position during a firstportion of its path of travel and means turning said shelf for travel ina substantially vertical position during a second portion of its path oftravel said shelf supporting links each including a bushing, a stubshaft on each end of each shelf rotatably mounted in each said bushing.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 including spaced apart openingsin one side of said casing adjacent at least two levels, and means forloading and/ or unloading a shelf at each opening.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for holding theshelves in substantially horizontal position and then in a substantiallyvertical position comprises substantially parallel pairs of trackssubstantially parallel to the chains along the reaches of upward anddownward movement of the chains, said tracks intersecting adjacent atleast one end of the path of travel of the shelf, and including abell-crank lever on each stub shaft, one arm of said lever having meansriding in one of said tracks and the other arm, substantially normal tothe first, having means riding in the other track.

4. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the shaft carrying linksare substituted for at least two normal sprocket chain links.

5. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein each bushing carryinglink is substituted for four normal sprocket chain links.

6. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein each shaft carrying linkcomprises a pair of spaced side plates, sprocket engaging pinsconnecting the side plates adjacent each end thereof, each side platehaving its shaft carrying bushing mounted intermediate its ends.

7. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein each sprocket has atleast one deepened and enlarged sprocket link pin pocket of suflicientdepth to center the axes of the bushings substantially on the pitchcircle of the sprocket.

8. The structure as defined in claim 7 wherein a sprocket is providedwith a plurality of deepened and enlarged sprocket link pin pocketsequally spaced about its periphery.

9. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein the deepened and enlargedsprocket link pin pockets are separated by two sprocket teeth, wherebythe spacing of shelves on a chain may be any multiple of two sprocketchain links.

10. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein the housing isrectangular, and including means adjacent said openings for loading andunloading said shelves.

11. The structure as defined in claim 10 including an opening on theopposite side adjacent the upper end of the housing for loading andunloading.

12. The structure as defined in claim 11 including automatic fire doorsat said openings, and a fireproofing material applied on the outside ofsaid housing.

13. The structure as defined in claim 12 wherein said fireproofingmaterial is a noncombustible material which expands into a cellularstructure under the influence of heat.

14. A unitary loading and unloading conveyor device adapted to beinstalled in a vertical shaft in a structure,

comprising an elongated housing, spaced apart substan- 25 tiallyparallel endless sprocket chains in said housing, upper and lowersprockets supporting said chains, with substantially vertical runs ofsaid chains between said sprockets, said chains having sprocket chainlinks and pins, spaced apart shaft carrying links thereon having shaftcarrying bushings therein, the axes of said bushings being in line withthe sprocket pins, and having spaced apart shelves mounted thereon andextending therebetween, and adapted for circulatory movement therewith,means holding said shelves substantially normal to the substantiallyvertical run of said chains during motion in one direction and holdingsaid shelves substantially parallel to the substantially vertical run ofsaid chains during motion in the other direction, said sprockets havingdeepened pin pockets to receive said shaft carrying bushings, bell-cranklevers on said shelves, guide means on the inside of said casing forcontrolling the position of said shelves, cooperating with saidbell-crank levers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 20 D. 29,142 8/1898 Dunn 74-243 X2,081,301 5/1957 Hudspeth 198-155 2,747,724 5/1956 Kornylak 19s 1552,960,209 11/1960 Everhart 19s 140 3,279,928 10/1966 Lawrence 10615EDWARD A. SROKA, Primary Examiner.

